Clothes-line reel.



No. 790,818. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. W. J. GONNELL & C. B. NAY.

CLOTHES LINE REEL. APPLICATION HLBD PB'B.13.1904.

UNITED STATES )Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

NVILLIAM J. CONNELL AND CASSIUS B. NAY, OF FAIRMONT, VEST VIRGINIA.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,818, dated May 23, 1905.

Application filed February 13, 1904. Serial No. 193,463.

same is not in use, but from which the linecan be readily drawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic closure whereby the admission of moisture, Sac., to the line within the device is prevented.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a casing having a longitudinally-extending slot therein which is normallyclosed by a slide connected to a spring-bracket which is secured to the casing and serves as a means for connecting said casing to a supporting device. Arranged within the casing is a reel which is adapted to be rotated by a train of gears, which receive motion from a crank suitably located upon the casing.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the reel. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, the ends of the casing being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the device, and Fig. 4 is a detail View of the closure detached. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through one side of the casing on line rv, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the slotted springbracket, the same being shown in engagement with a spike.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a cylindrical casing having a longitudinally-extending slot 2 therein, and this casing is adapted to be closed at one end by a cap 3. Secured to the cap 3 and projecting upon the inner face of this cap are pins 4, on. which is secured a cross-plate 5, and journaled in this plate and in the cap 3 is a shaft 6, having a crank 7 at its outer end. A gear 8 is secured to the 'shaft 6 between the cap 3 and plate 5 and meshes with a smaller gear 9, which is secured to a shaft 10, journaled in the center of the closed end of casing 1 and of cap 3. A drum or spool 11 is secured to and rotates with the shaft 10, and one end of a clothes-line 12 is adapted to be fastened thereto in any suitable manner. Slots 13 are formed in the casing 1 adjacent the ends of and at right angles to the slot 2, and within these slots are slidably mounted pins 14, which are connected to a curved plate 15, which constitutes a closure for the slot 2. The two pins 14 are connected by a strap 16, which in turn is secured to a spring-bracket 17. The other end of this bracket is fastened to the casing 1 at a point removed a suitable distance from the slots 13. Strap 17 has a keyhole-slot 18 formed within it, whereby the same can be readily placed in engagement with a spike 19 or other suitable securing device. The notch 2() is formed in one edge of the closure 15, so that when'said closure is in position over the slot 2 an aperture will be formed through which the rope 12 can extend.

The device herein described is adapted to be secured to a post or other suitable support 21 by placing the slotted bracket 17 in engagement with the spike or nail 19. When it is desired to unwind the rope 12, it is merely necessary to draw the same outward through the slot 2, and the pressure exerted upon the casing 1 in this manner is sufficient to cause the spring-bracket 17 to bend and slide the strap 16 upon the casing. The pins 14 will thus retract the closure 15 from the slot 2, and the rope 12 will be free to travel backward and forward within the slot 2 as it unwinds from the spool. As soon as pressure is removed the spring-bracket 17 will return the closure and the casing 1 to their normal positions and slot 2 will thus be closed. To return the rope to the casing, the crank 7 is rotated, and motion is imparted therefrom to the spool through gears 8 and 9.

1t will be seen that the device is very simple in construction andproteets the/rope from injury by the elements when notin use.

In the foregoing description we have shown the preferred form of our invention; but we do not limit ourselves thereto, as we are aware that modifications. may be made thereinwitli out departing from the spirit or sacrifie-ing: any of the advantages thereof, and we therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as may fairly fall/within the scope of our invention.

HavingthusfullyV described-the invention, what we claim as new is- 1. The combination with a easing having a slot therein and a spool within the easing; of aslide mounted within the casing, anda spring supporting-bracket connected to thev slide andy casingand'adapted to hold the slide normally in position overthe slot'.

2. Thecombinationwitha-casing having a sl'ot in onewall thereof, anda revol'uble'spool within the'casing; of aslide withinvthecasing and having ar notch' in one edgeA thereof, a'

ends tolthwcasing and strap.

4. The combination with a easing having a slot therein;.. of a..:slide, a= spring-bracket secured to and adapted to support the easing,

and a strap connected to the slide and bracket,-

whereby said slide is held normally in position over the slot'by thebraoket;

Intestimony whereof weaffixE our signatures'in presenceV ofv two witnesses-.-

VVILEIAM J. @Ol'llEl-Jg.v C'SSIUS' B; NKY.

Witnesses:

J2 PI KIRBY, LEE R. HALL. 

